It was never a good thing for a plan to unravel, yet Jerónimo had anticipated that something would eventually go awry. The world, after all, did not bend entirely to one's will.
He had not intended to return to California in person anyway. More importantly, he had already brought back people he could trust.
Thus, he overhauled his plans from the ground up. Before entering the military academy, he hurried to take care of the tasks he had originally scheduled for later.
First, the two boys whose families had asked him to educate them were sent off to university.
Diego Luis was placed in Mexico's most prestigious institution: the Royal and Pontifical University of Mexico (Real y Pontificia Universidad de México). But when Jerónimo paid the tuition and quietly reviewed the curriculum, he was struck with dismay.
No department of business administration — only theology, law, medicine, and the so-called "arts." And by "arts" (la de Artes), they don't mean painting or sculpture, but the medieval trivium: grammar, rhetoric, and logic.
Among these, the "arts" was the least useless, and so Diego Luis was enrolled there.
Still, even that program included religious studies for a third of the curriculum. What a bloody waste. Such material ought to be taught in the theology department alone.
In this period, most of Mexico's educational institutions were still run by priests of the Roman Catholic Church, and it was inevitable that their programs bore a heavy religious slant.
As for Sergio Ortega, who had a keen interest in technology, sending him to the Royal and Pontifical University was out of the question. Upon research, Jerónimo discovered that during the colonial era there had been a Royal Seminary of Mining (Real Seminario de Minería) — one of the few places in Mexico to teach engineering and science. Unfortunately, it had been shut down during the wars of independence.
He approached his father, arguing that mining was one of Mexico's key industries and that they now had some fiscal leeway, proposing that the seminary be reopened. Thus was born the resurrected College of Mining (Colegio de Minería) — and to it, Jerónimo sent Sergio Ortega.
The secularization of education must become a priority. Without it, the nation's scientific and intellectual development is doomed.
There was nothing he could do about it yet, but paying tuition to institutions where even non-theology courses included over 30% religious instruction made his blood boil. He added a new item to his long-term reforms: "Secularization of Education."
He assigned separate missions to the five carpenters he had brought with him from California.
"You've already been briefed during our journey to Mexico City," he told them, "but since I was originally meant to oversee everything myself and will now be attending the military academy, I must emphasize the plans once more."
For the past five months, he had traveled with them, detailing the businesses he intended to launch and the strategies for each. But with his absence imminent, he had to reinforce their understanding.
"Emilio, you're to purchase land in a place called Las Truchas, in Michoacán."
"Las Truchas in Michoacán. I remember," Emilio replied.
"Yes. Secure the land, explore for iron ore, and if found, begin mining operations. The extracted ore will be used to manufacture and sell farming tools and mining equipment."
"Yes, Your Highness."
This was the foundation for a future railway system.
The world's first railway would open next year — 1825 in England. Then in rapid succession, the United States, France, Germany, and Russia would follow suit, because the principle of the steam engine was already well-known. And once one understood the concept of railroads, even a rudimentary train could be constructed.
As civil engineering was one of Jerónimo's own areas of expertise, he was well-versed in railroad systems. However, such a system required immense capital and iron production capacity.
To that end, he planned to steadily acquire and develop iron mines, and with the forthcoming gold rush and frontier expansion, use the surging demand for tools and machinery to fund the future.
Las Truchas, in the original timeline, would become one of the largest iron mines in Mexico — and indeed, one of the largest in the world. The land wasn't entirely unclaimed now, but since the iron hadn't yet been discovered, it could likely be purchased cheaply.
"Ramón, your task is to establish a steady supply network for cotton. Once you've secured it, begin producing durable workwear and tents using that device I mentioned — the rivet."
"Yes, Your Highness."
This second enterprise mirrored that of Levi Strauss in the original history. Tents were indispensable during frontier expansion and the gold rush, and strong, practical workwear would always sell well — gold rush or not.
"Alfonso, begin setting up stagecoach relay posts between Mexico City and the port of Veracruz. Operate freight and passenger routes between the cities, beginning with the high-traffic ones, and prepare to extend the line to California."
"Yes, Your Highness."
This was the third business — inspired by the legacy of Wells Fargo. Long-distance travel in this era was fraught with the danger of highwaymen, making transport a high-risk, high-reward industry.
Wells Fargo began during the Gold Rush, offering express delivery of mail, food, and gold, and later expanded into financial services. It eventually became one of the top four banks in the United States.
Mexico, by contrast, had no such services — only rudimentary postal systems between a few cities. Jerónimo aimed to change that, building a national logistics and financial backbone.
"Hernando, hire laborers in Mexico City and construct a restaurant and lodging facility in Sacramento. Run the operation yourself and remain stationed there. Continue paying the miners working my gold mine and oversee its development."
"Yes, Your Highness."
The fourth business focused on commercial dominance in Sacramento. While the profits would decline after the gold rush, it would serve as a reliable cash flow in the interim.
"Isidro, your task is to assemble a small pioneer party and begin settling the new town I mentioned — San Francisco. Build restaurants and lodgings there to serve the gold rush influx. Also, secure and manage the most profitable mines. The land is all mine anyway. Just turn a blind eye to those mining less viable plots."
"Yes, Your Highness."
This fifth business was the San Francisco version of the fourth — and Jerónimo poured nearly every gold bar he had brought from California into these five ventures.
"Emilio, Ramón, Alfonso, Hernando, Isidro," he said solemnly, locking eyes with each as he took their hands in firm handshakes. "The promises I made to you in California, I swear upon my honor to fulfill. I leave these ventures in your care. These will be the seeds of our empire's prosperity."
Each of these men had built homes in the pioneer village. Their families still resided in California. Convincing them to abandon their settlements and return to Mexico City had not been easy. But those who had seen Jerónimo's capability firsthand chose to follow him, trusting in his promise of a brighter future.
To ease the burden of separation, Jerónimo entrusted the First Company's commander and Master Carpenter Ortega to watch over their families in Sacramento.
And finally, there was the matter of startup capital. Jerónimo personally placed a pouch of gold into each man's hand.
It wasn't the full amount — only a portion to get them started — but even so, it was a considerable sum.
"Your Highness… you honor us with such trust."
"We'll give it everything we have!"
"We won't fail!"